Finding a Law in Sterne Library's Collection

Introduction 2
Federal Laws on the World Wide Web 2
Federal Laws 2
By Popular Name 2
By Public Law (PL) Number 3
By Statute (Stat) Number 3
By U.S. Code (U.S.C. or U.S.C.A.) Number 3
By Subject 4
Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations 4
Alabama State Laws 4
By Popular Name 4
By Act Number 4
By Code Number 4
By Subject 5
Other States' Laws 5
City and Local Laws 5
International Laws and Treaties 5
Abbreviations Guide 6

INTRODUCTION

Laws are published in a variety of ways: first as a "slip law," then bound together as a collection of statutes
and also usually "codified," that is, arranged by subject. In addition to the official government publications of
the laws, often there are "annotated" additions as well, which include extra notes, tables, indexes, etc. Sterne
Library, like many libraries, has a variety of law sources for various years; this guide will help you know
when to use each source.

When you begin to look for a law, the source you use depends upon whether you have a citation, a title,

a subject, etc., with which to begin your search. Use the table of contents on the previous page to refer to
the appropriate section.

The law books are classified as call number "K" in the Library of Congress scheme. The "K" reference

collection is located near the entrance of the library next to the online catalog cluster (ask at the
Information/Reference Desk for help if you need it).

FEDERAL LAWS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB

Full-text of federal laws, 1995 to current, are available through one of the databases on GPO ACCESS, the
official publishing agency of the United States government. See URL: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/
Searches can be done by key word phrases for finding laws by popular name or subject words, by public law
numer, bill number, etc. For more information, ask at the Reference/Information Desk for the Sterne
Library handout titled "GPO ACCESS & THOMAS."

FEDERAL LAWS

By Popular Name

(Example: "The Fair Housing Act")

Laws are arranged by public law number (PL), Statutes at Large number (Stat), or code (U.S.C. or
U.S.C.A.) title and section numbers. If you have only the name of a law, you need to look up the name of
the law alphabetically in one of the following sources in order to find the number in one of the sources listed.
Find a Public Law, Statute, or Code number, then go to that heading in this handout for the next step.
[Note: the Code divides the law by subject; if you are looking for the entire law, it is best to use the Public
Law or Statute number].

1) Use the following source:

Shepard's Acts and Cases by Popular Name (Ref KF 90 S52)

2) If you cannot find the name listed in Shepard's, then use the "Popular names" table in one of the following
sources:

United States Code Congressional and Administrative News (Ref KF 48)

Statutes at Large (Ref KF 50 U58)

By Public Law (PL) Number

(Example: PL 92-224)

Note when using the Statutes at Large: The first part of the Public Law number is the Congress in which

the law was passed (for example, PL 92-224 was passed in the 92nd Congress, the 224th law). Look in the
Statutes at Large under the appropriate Congress and then use tables/lists in the front of the volume to find
the law. Sterne Library does not own the complete set of the United States Statutes at Large, especially in
the older volumes. You may need to use one of the other libraries in the area to find older laws. See the
government documents librarian for further information.

1) For PL 92-225 and higher, use:

United States Code and Administrative News (Ref KF 48)

2) For PL 92-224 and lower, use:

United States Statutes at Large (Ref KF 50 U58)

By Statute Number

(Example: 88 Stat 246)

In the example given above, 88 is the Statute volume number and 246 is the page number. Use one of the

following sources depending on the number of the statute:

1) For 94 Stat and lower, use:

United States Statutes at Large (Ref KF 50 U58)

2) For 95 Stat and higher, use:

United States Code and Administrative News (Ref KF 48)

By U.S. CODE Number

(Example: U.S. Code 1982 Title 42, S6261 to 6263, et seq.)

In the above example, use Title 42 of the U.S. Code (see call number below), and turn to the section
numbers as indicated ["et seq" means that the sections following that section number also apply].

United States Code Annotated (Ref KF 62 1927 W45)

By Subject

If you are interested in finding all the laws that apply to a particular subject ("Housing", for example), then
use the following source:

United States Code Annotated (Ref KF 62 1927 W45)

Use the indexes (at the end of the set) to look up the subject. This will refer you to a Title and section
numbers within the Title. Use this same section number to check at the back of the Title (a supplement in a
pocket) for any updates to that section.

EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATIONS

1) Since 1972, use the following source:

United States Code Congressional & Administrative News (Ref KF 48)

2) Prior to 1972, use:

Statutes at Large (Ref KF 50 U58)

ALABAMA STATE LAWS

Alabama Law By Popular Name

The following source gives citation for state laws as well as federal laws. Look for the abbreviation "Ala."

Shepard's Acts and Cases by Popular Name (Ref KF 90 S52)

Alabama Law By Act Number

Acts of Alabama (Ref KFA 25 A25)

Alabama Law By Code Number

(Example: Ala. Code 1975, $3-7-1 et. seq.)

In the above example, "3" is the Title number and "-7-1" is the section within that title. Use:

Code of Alabama (Ref KFA 30 1975 A22)

Alabama Law By Subject

Code of Alabama (Ref KFA 30 1975 A22)

Use the indexes at the end of the set which refer to the Title and section number for law on that subject. Use
this same section number to look at the end of the volume for updates on that section in the "pocket part."
This pocket supplement is also sometimes issued as a separate booklet when the update grows too large for
a pocket part.

Acts of Alabama (Ref KFA 25 A25)

The Acts also have a subject index in the back of each volume. This will refer you to laws passed for that
year; for updates, refer to the Code above. The Code is a better source to search by subject unless you need
historic perspective.

OTHER STATES' LAWS

There is no one single source for searching all state laws on all subjects, other than online databases (which
can be rather expensive). For most researchers' needs, looking for such topics as abortion or firearms laws
for example, a simple table or summary would be sufficient, and the following bibliography helps to find
such information. For more information on finding other states' laws, consult with a reference librarian.

For Birmingham City and local area laws, use the Southern History department at Birmingham Public
Library. For areas other than Birmingham, consult with the government documents librarian.

INTERNATIONAL LAWS & TREATIES

1) For 1873 - 1951, use:

Statutes at Large (Ref KF 50 U58)

2) For 1950 - 1970, use:

United States Treaties Cumulative Index, 1959 - 1970 (Ref JX 231 K38)
This source indexes by date, country, subject, and TIAS number. With the TIAS number, you can find the
full text of the treaty in the following source:

United States Treaties and Other International Agreements (UST) (JX 231 A34)

3) For current treaties, the following source publishes selected U.S. treaties upon ratification:

United States Code Congressional & Administrative News (Ref KF 48)

4) The following is an annual annotated list of treaties currently in force:

Treaties in Force: A List of Treaties and Other International Agreements of the U.S. in Force on January 1
(ASI 7004-1)

P.A.I.S. (an index to periodical articles; available online through SCOTTY)
6) Also of interest, especially for information on treaties not involving the U.S. [Sterne Library owns only
up to 1985]:

International Legal Materials (Per JX 68 I5)

ABBREVIATIONS GUIDE

Listed below are a few of the most common law source abbreviations, many of which are referred to in this
guide. Many additional abbreviations refer to case or other legal sources which are not addressed in this
guide. For more information on these sources, please ask at the Information/Reference Desk for the Sterne
Library guide, "Legal Information in Sterne Library." For an extensive list of legal abbreviations, please see
the following source: Black's Law Dictionary (Ref KF 156 B3).

This handout is intended to be a very brief guide specifically on finding a law or laws. A more detailed
Sterne Library guide for finding legal information is titled, "Legal Information in Sterne Library," available at
the Information/Reference Desk.